WOMAN’S ANNIVERSARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1938, Page 12

WOMAN’S ANNIVERSARY

101 YEARS otf’ AGE

[PER press association.]

AUCKLAND, November 18. Still active, possessed of good health and keenly interested in topical events, Mrs. T. G. Marlow, of Wilding avenue, Epsom, will celebrate her one hundred and first birthday at her home to-mor-row. Born in London in 1837, the year in which Queen Victoria came to the throne, Mrs. Marlow has survived the complete reigns of four British Sovereigns. Mrs. Marlow came to New Zealand in 1865, and in the following year married Mr. Marlow, who was born in London in 1838. At first they lived in Dunedin, where Mr. Marlow was a draper’s assistant, and later a traveller for warehouse firms. In 1881 they came to Auckland, where Mr. Marlow joined Archibald Clark and Sons.

Subsequently the couple were engaged in farming for 10 years on a 1000-acre block at Katikati, and then for 20 years Mr. Marlow was on the clerical staff of the Waihi Gold Mining Company at Waikino. He was well past 80 years when he retired, with his wife, to Auckland. Mr. Marlow died in 1930.

In spite of her great age, Mrs. Marlow still knits and reads with ease. Items in the newspapers she discusses with keen interest. She writes without difficulty, and maintains correspondence with members of her family. Although she does not walk any considerable distances, she is occasionally shown round the city by motorcar. GOLDEN WEDDING Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Bignell celebrated their golden wedding at their home “Mt. Desert,” Wanganui, this week. Many old friends offered their congratulations. At a dinner party all five of their children were present—Mrs. E. Merewether, Mrs. Roland Young, and Messrs M., Moss, and Noel Bignell—and eighteen grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Bignell were married at Wallsend, by the Rev. R. York, of Greymouth, in 1888. They went to Wanganui in 1894, and Mr. Bignell carried on with Mr. Robert Russell the business of building construction. He was responsible for the erection of important buildings in Wanganui. He filled important positions in the city. He was Mayor from 1903 to 1906, thirteen years chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, and twentyfive years chairman of the Wanganui Collegiate Board fo Trustees. He is the oldest member of the Wanganui Licensing Committee, and chairman of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Racecourse Trust, and was chairman of the Gonville Tramways Board before Gonville joined the city.